Ice crusher



Feb. 23, 1937. w COVENTRY 2,071,730

ICE GRUSHER Filed Aug. 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheetl IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNY.

Feb. 23, 1937. 'w. A. COVENTRY 2,071,730

ICE CRUSHER Filed Aug. 1, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES analyst PATEN'E' QEFEQE ICE CRUSHER Application August 1, 1933, Serial No. 683,131

6 Claims. (01. 8363) The present invention relates to ice crushers and the like, and more particularly to ice crushers adapted for household purposes.

In preparing ice for packing ice cream freezers or for serving cocktails, soft drinks, salads and the like, the ice preferably is broken or crushed into small particles. The use of an ice pick for this purpose is slow and is dangerous in that injuries may be infiicted by it. Various types of mechanical devices have been devised to facilitate crushing ice but these have not been satisfactory. Devices for this purpose must be simple and inexpensive, since they are used generally by housewives and usually are used at infrequent intervals, whereby a substantial investment is not warranted. In addition, such devices must be properly coated to prevent rust and to maintain both the inner and outer surfaces thereof in a sanitary condition and appearance. It is also 20 desirable to have the devices operate rapidly and efiiciently. The mechanical devices now used for this purpose do not meet these requirements.

The present invention aims to provide a simple, inexpensive ice crushing device which may be manufactured by more convenient methods and at a lower cost. The present invention also aims to provide a device made of parts which may be uniformly coated with a non-corrosive metal such as tin, without danger of leaving uncoated spots or pin holes at which corrosion might begin. In addition, the present invention pro-- vides improved crushing members which may be readily assembled and which are effective to crush the ice more rapidly.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ice crusher which is easy to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive ice crushing device or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ice crushing device which is constructed of parts readily moldable and easily cleanable.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ice crushing device with the parts thereof adapted to be coated more readily and thoroughly with a non-corrosive coating.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved crushing members adapted to break ice rapidly into particles of substantially uniform size.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrated embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the device shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I

Figs. 4 and 4a are elevational views, illustrating the interior of the casing members;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view illus-f trating a preferred form of' crushing member;

and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view, showing another embodiment of the "crushing members. Referring again'to the drawings, and. more particularly toFigs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and la, there is shown an ice crushing device which may comprise a suitable receptacle or casing 2 preferably constructed of a pair of split members 4 and 5 provided with lugs B for securing them together by means of rivets, or by any other suitable means, such as bolts or screws 1 having nuts 9 threaded thereon. The members 4 and 5 preferably are made of cast iron and when assembled provide a receptacle integral in effect but not subject to the disadvantages of making integral receptacles, as will be explained hereafter.

Members 4 and 5 are shaped at the top to provide a suitable. hopper portion In for receiving ice to be crushed, the middle portion thereof is bulged outwardly substantially at l I and 12 to provide a substantially circular crushing chamber 13 where-' in crushing members may be mounted, while the bottom portions of the members 4 and 5 are constricted to provide a chute portion I4 for delivering the crushed ice to a container placed under the device.

Preferably, the members 4 and 5 are split at the sides thereof, whereby the seam is at the sides of the device. In this manner, suitable recesses l5 and 15a may be formed in the seam which provide apertures or hearing portions for mounting a shaft 15 therein. As noted more particularly in Figs. 4 and la, these apertures are provided substantially at the center of the crushing chamber 13, whereby suitable crushing members, about to be described, may be mounted on the shaft 16 extending through said apertures.-

The shaft 16 preferably has, a round portion IT at one end thereof adapted to fit into the recesses |5a, and is provided with an aperture IQ for receiving a cotter pin 20. A suitable washer I8 may be mounted on the portion I for spacing the cotter pin from the casing members. The portion of the shaft extending through the casing 2 may be square or keyed to permit suitable crushing members 24 having corresponding recesses or apertures 25, to be mounted thereon. The other end of the shaft is provided with a portion 2| adapted to receive a crank or handle member 22 for rotating the shaft. Preferably, the recesses |5 provide an aperture which is substantially larger than the maximum diameter of the shaft, so that, when the cotter pin is removed, the shaft may be withdrawn from the casing without taking members 4 and 5 apart. In this manner, the crushing members 24 maybe conveniently rearranged or replaced. To compensate for the enlarged aperture, and to facilitate rotation of the shaft, a bushing or bearing member 23 (Fig. 3) is mounted on the shaft portion 2| and is seated. in the aperture provided by the recesses I 5.

In Fig; 5, a preferred form of crushing member is shown, which comprises a pair of substantially circular extensions or bushing portions 21 for spacing the crushing members on the shaft. A suitable radially outwardly projecting' cutting portion 29 is provided intermediate the portions 21, which is substantially circular at 30, is involute or cam-shaped at 3|, and terminates in a prong portion 32.

The members 24 preferably are mounted on the shaft in staggered relation or out of circumferential alignment (see Figs. 2 and 3), so that, in the normal rotation of the shaft, some of the members 24 will be in advance of the others to cause the initial crushing of the ice, while the others will reduce the lumps of ice to the desired size. The members 24 are preferably loosely mounted on the shaft so that they may tilt slightly with respect to the shaft and may-move longitudinally thereon. In this manner, when the prongs 32 engage a piece of ice, tending to block its passage, the members can tilt slightly. The tilting of the members and the longitudinal play upon the shaft permit the members to adjust themselves in conformity with the size and shape of the lumps of ice being crushed.

To properly feed the ice to the crushers and to hold it while the crushers are effective, suitable ribs 34 are provided on member 4 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 411) at the hopper portion, and spaced projections 35 are formed at the lower portion of member 4 substantially below the bulged portion. These projections extend inward toward the cutters and are spaced so that the cutters pass through the intermediate recesses 36. In this manner, pieces of ice, to pass from the hopper ID to the chute 4, must be reduced in size to pass between the crushers and the projections 35.

In order that the crushing device may be mounted on a table or shelf, the member 5 is provided with a lug 37 for connecting a bracket 39 thereto by means of a wing nut 40 and a bolt 4| extending through suitable apertures. The bracket is provided at the bottom with the usual screw clamp'42 for'engaging a table or the like. Preferably, the lug 31 is provided with a notch shipment, the wing nut may be loosened, the projection may be released, and the bracket may be folded over, whereby the device may be packed away conveniently.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the present embodiment wherein suitable circular discs 52, having relatively sharp peripheral edges, are mounted alternately with respect to the crushing members on the shaft. The discs are preferably rotatable with the shaft and serve to cut the lumps of ice at the bottom at the same time that they are being cut by the cutters 32 at the top. This facilitates the operation of the device and permits the ice to be crushed with greater speed and with less effort. An advantage of having the cutters, as well as the discs 52, slidably mounted upon the shaft, is that the cutters may be spaced,

by suitable washers, as desired by the purchaser.

In this way, the sizes of the lumps of crushed ice can be regulated to suit the housewifes taste, it being a relatively simple matter, when the device is being assembled or thereafter, to space the cutters 32 as desired.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the members 4 and 5 are preferably molded or cast without the use of sand cores ordinarily required for one-piece receptacles. This is possible since formation of the chamber in two parts renders the molding operation simple, avoiding the use of sand cores. If the parts 4 and 5 were to be cast integral with each other, sand cores would be required, which would increase materially the cost of the device. In addition, by casting the chamber in two parts, all portions of the casting are exposed and readily accessible for cleaning purposes. In the process of tinning or coating the castings with non-corrosive coatings, as is necessary with ice crushers, the castings are usually cleaned by tumbling them in barrels containing sand and an acid solution, for some twenty-four to forty-eight hours. If any of the sand holes or other irregularities are not thoroughly cleaned, a pin hole is likely to be formed in the coating, at which corrosion may start. By constructing the device with the two castings 4 and 5, all parts are exposed and a shorter. cleaning period may be utilized with better results than can be obtained by longer cleaning periods, Where the castings have enclosed surfaces. The importance of having the castings properly coated to avoid rust cannot be over-emphasized because the moisture of the ice tends to rust the material. Since the ice, in many cases, is placed in drinks, it is essential that the crushers not only be clean and sanitary but also have the appearance of cleanliness.

In assembling the device, the cutters orcrushers may be mounted in their desired position on the shaft, for example, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the washer l8 and the bushing 23 may be mounted on the respective ends of the shaft. The handle is then secured and the cotter pin is set into the aperture on the shaft and is split. The crushers are then set into one of the casing members, for example, member 4, so that the bushing 23 on the shaft and the shaft portion ll fit into the recesses I5 and i504, respectively. The casing member 5 is then placed thereover and is secured to member 4. The bracket may then be attached to the lug 3'5, whereby the article is completely assembled and is ready for shipment. If desired, the handle 22 may be connected by the purchaser to permit more convenient packing of the device during shipment.

In using the device, the bracket is clamped to a table or shelf and the receptacle portion is secured in upright position thereon. Pieces of ice adapted to fit into the hopper H), or ice cubes such as those made by mechanical household refrigerators, are placed into the hopper. A suitable container, pan or similar receptacle for receiving the crushed ice is placed beneath the chute portion. The handle or crank is then rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow (see Fig. 2), whereby the crushing members 24 engage the ice, force it downwardly against the projections 35 and. cut or crush it until it is reduced to proper size and can fall between the projections and the crushers into the chute. The ribs 34 serve to engage pieces of ice delivered to the crushers to prevent upward movement thereof, thereby insuring constant feeding of ice. By mounting the crushing members progressively on the shaft, the ice is broken several times before it can be delivered, thus minimizing rotative effort which would be required to break a large piece into a great number of small pieces at once. In addition, the loose mounting of the members 24 permits tilting thereof, whereby they are particularly effective to crush the ice more rapidly and with less effort.

The construction shown in Fig. 6 facilitates rapid crushing, since the sharp edges of the discs 52 cut the ice while the crushing members are effective.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, inexpensive device which can be made without complicated apparatus. The casing members may be cast more readily and can be cleaned for coating rapidly and thoroughly to provide a better coating thereon. The crushing members may also be cast, thus eliminating machinery or other expensive operations. The device may be assembled without the aid of special tools and can be taken apart for repairs very conveniently. In addition, the bushing seated in the enlarged aperture l5 permits the crushers to be removed without taking the casing members apart. The crushing members are effective to reduce pieces of ice to smaller particles of substantially uniform size, with a minimum amount of rotative effort. In addition, the device is light in weight and can be packed very conveniently both during shipment and when not in use. The device is rugged in construction and fully adapted to withstand any rough usage to which it may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and. scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of channel members having recesses on the edges thereof adapted to register to form aligned apertures when said channel members are secured together, a shaft mounted in said apertures, a plurality of cutters mounted on said shaft in the chamber formed by said channel members, said cutting members having extended portions adapted to form prong-like members for engaging the upper side of pieces of ice to crush them, and substantially circular cutting members intermediate said first-mentioned cutting members adapted to engage the lower sides of the pieces of ice passing through said crusher to facilitate the crushing operation.

2. In an'icecrush'er, the combination of a cas ing having a hopper portion, a discharge opening, and a crushing chamber intermediate said hopper and discharge opening, a rotatable shaft mounted in said casing adjacent said crushing chamber, cam-shapedcrushing members on said shaft, and circular cutting discs having a peripheral cutting edge, mounted on said shaft alternately with respect to said crushing mem-- bers, said crushing members and cutting discs being located in said crushing chamber and being so spaced from the wall of said chamber to force pieces of ice against the side wall of the crushing chamber to-break the ice into smaller pieces.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a crushing chamber having spaced projections on the interior thereof, a rotatable shaft extending through said chamber, pronglike members mounted on and rotatable with said shaft adapted to crush pieces of ice against said projections, said shaft and prong-like member being positioned so that said. prong-like members pass between adjacent projections, and substantially circular members having a cutting edge mounted on said shaft alternately with respect to said prong-like members adapted to cut the surface of the pieces of ice to facilitate the crushing thereof.

4. In a device of the class described, the com- K bination of a channel member having flanges, the edges of each flange having straight portions at the upper and lower ends thereof and having a curved portion at the middle, said curved portion terminating in a V-shaped projection provided with a semi-circular recess extending beneath said V-shaped projection, a second channel member having flanges adapted toregister with the flanges of said first channel member with each flange having a semi-circular recess registering with said recess of said first member to provide an aperture for a shaft, means for securing the channel members together to form a chamber, and a shaft extending through said apertures having crushing means thereon, said V- shaped projections strengthening the flanges of said first channel member and said recesses extending beneath said V-shaped projection providing a notch for preventing upward movement of said shaft.

5. In an ice crusher, the combination of a pair of channel members having vertical flanges. at each side adapted to form a hopper portion and a crushing chamber, said flanges of one of said members being adapted to register with the flanges of the other of said members to form a casing having a vertical split at the sides thereof, said flanges having arcuate recesses at the split adapted to register and provide an aperture at each side of the casing for receiving a shaft, the portions of the flanges providing the recesses in one of said channel members being shaped to extend over the shaft to form a bearing portion or abutment for preventing upward movement of the shaft, an arbor shaft extending through said crushing chamber having a reduced portion at one end extending into the aperture at one side of the casing, a bushing member on the other end of said shaft and rotatable therewith, said bushing member having a flange adjacent to the outer side of the casing and having a cylindrical portion extending inwardly through the aperture at the other side of the casing, means for rotating the shaft at the end of the shaft where the bushing member is provided, and ice crushing members on said shaft.

6. In a device of the class described, the-combination of a channel member having flanges at a shaft, means for securing the channel members together, said channel members being shaped to provide a hopper portion at the upper end and a discharge opening at the bottom and having an outwardly'bulged portion at the middle thereof forming a crushing chamber, a rotatable shaft extending through said apertures, means for rotating said shaft and crushing members on said shaft adapted to be rotated in said crushing member, said V-shaped projections strengthening the flanges of said first channel member and said recesses extending beneath said V-shaped projection providing a notch for preventing upward movement of said shaft.

WILLIAM A. COVENTRY. 

